BY NATALIE WADE / Editor
As Auburn embarks on another fall semester and old and new students begin pouring into the Plains, there will be two more new distinct faces on campus. These two people are a brand new addition to the administration of the school, but not to the University itself.
For Dr. Jay Gogue, Auburn University’s newest president, and his wife, who got both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Auburn, this is more of a reunion with the town and University.
“It’s grown so much since we were students and the town itself has changed, and I think it looks great,” said Susie Gogue. “I’m real impressed with the campus and the city of Auburn. It looks good, but it still feels like Auburn.”
Time will tell how Gogue will be remembered here at Auburn, but if his resume speaks anything to his capabilities, it will most assuredly be with fondness. There is an old phrase, behind every great man is a great woman.
Susie Gogue is the woman who has always stood behind Jay Gogue. The couple, which will be celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary this year, has been together from the time they were teenagers, growing up in small town Waycross, located in southeast Georgia. When Susie speaks about her and Jay’s early romance, she sums it up in a short and simple sentence.
“It worked for us,” she said.
The couple could’ve nearly bypassed Auburn and attended one of Georgia’s universities, but Susie said it was a decision that Jay made.
“Actually Jay decided (to go to Auburn),” she said. “His grandparents lived in Arkansas, and the way (his family) would go to his grandparents’ house, they would drive through here. His dad always just loved Auburn and thought it was beautiful. So as a young child he grew up knowing about Auburn and that’s where he wanted to come, and I came because he came. The town we grew up in was small also, so this was a good fit.”
Susie said although she is the president’s wife, she will be involved on campus, and people may even see her around.
“As the president’s wife, there is a lot of entertaining, and I know early in the fall we’ll do a welcome freshman party on the lawn at the house, and I do walk around campus,” Susie said.
Dr. Gouge has already left an impression on everyone he’s met. Phrases like quiet, reserved and observant are often used to describe him. He’s said this is a listening and learning time for him, and his wife only reiterates that.
“We are accessible. We want to know what’s on your mind and we will be involved,” she said. “We just have to have this learning period. We’re looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to the hustle and bustle of the fall semester starting up (and) football starting up.”
Susie said she and her husband have always followed Auburn football whenever they could from wherever they were.
“I have always loved (Auburn football),” Susie said. “We’ve tried to follow Auburn all through our career at different universities, of course we couldn’t get back to games because we were at other schools that were having games. We always looked to see what Auburn did, who they were going to play, and how they did and if they were on television and if we could, we would try to watch them.”
She also had high praises for Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville and the way he commands his players.
“Yes, we have (met Tommy Tuberville), I’m very impressed,” she said. “I think his philosophy of coaching, the ideals he sets for the players and that they have to be of good moral character and they have to plan on graduating, those are the things that he really emphasizes so I was really impressed. I think it’s wonderful, and I think the players should be proud to be playing for a coach like that.”
One of the perks for the president and his family is getting to live in the president’s mansion.
“The grounds are just absolutely beautiful and the home is lovely,” Susie said. “I know it was built, I think, in the late ’30s is what they told me, but well kept and well preserved, and I think it will work very nicely for all the entertaining that we need to do.”  
Past first ladies have taken interest in landscaping or changing small things on the property. Susie said that there were a few things already in the works before she arrived, but no major plans are being made on her part.
“They already have some plans drawn up to add another bathroom and make it handicapped accessible,” Susie said. “There is one that is handicapped accessible that is outside, adjacent to the carport in that area, but they feel like they need another one probably off to the back of the house somewhere. So you may see that construction happening later this year. As far as redecorating, I may change a paint color I’ve been playing with that, but at this point that’s all I can think of.”
The grounds may see some changes, particularly a former gardening area, but the changes will involve University students and will correspond with their course work.
“I have met with the Horticulture Department people, and I would like to see some of the Hort students involved in vegetable gardening in that big area. And also, there is a small goldfish pond adjacent and there is an area around there that they were talking about having students grow cut flowers and maybe some herbs and that kind of thing, so we’re going to try to get students involved in those two areas on site of the grounds.”
The couple has three dogs that stay in a fenced area in the back yard.  
“We have three dogs, big dogs, we have a German Shepard, a Weimaraner, and a standard poodle,” Mrs. Gogue said. “They seem to have adjusted really well. Actually it’s not as hot and humid here as it was in Houston, even though it has been warm the last couple of days you don’t have as much humidity. So it’s more pleasant outside, so they are enjoying it. (Their names are) Pogo, Sophie, and Dixie.”
Susie said they do eat out a lot at University and community events, but do like to cook at home when time allows. She also said that her and Jay do not watch much television.
“If, in the evening, we’re sitting down there with theTV on, he probably has the laptop and is doing something on it at the same time sort of watching the TV,” Susie said. “I’m the same way, if I have some office work I need to get done I’ll be catching up on that. Jay likes sports, if there is a sporting event, but we haven’t really watched a show in years.”
Susie said she and her husband are looking forward to the coming semester and their goals are straight.
“We all feel, I know Jay and I do, that we are here for the students, I mean, that’s why we are in this business,” she said. “We love the students, we want to be supportive of the students, we want them to learn and go on and have great careers. Anything we can do to help, give us a couple days, and we’ll try to work it into the schedule. We loved it when we were here before, and I know we will again.”